Tooth Coloured Fillings
At McKenzie Towne Family Dental we are pleased to offer our clients an alternative to traditional Mercury Amalgam fillings and a more affordable option to Ceramic Restorations. Many of our clients find that these fillings are esthetically pleasing (as they are tooth colored) and this makes them a compelling choice to other restorations options.
So with the decline in the use of amalgams by dentists, over 70% over the fillings created today are composed of resin or synthetic composite materials. Composite fillings are made up of acrylic and glass particles and contain no mercury or other metals. The filling material is white or matched to the colour of your teeth and has a very natural appearance. However, it should be noted that these types of fillings, while improving strength because they are fused or bonded to the tooth, are only a short-term solution for larger fills, with a life of around two years.
How is a composite filling placed?
Following preparation, we place the composite in layers; using a light that specializes in hardening each layer. When the process is finished, we shape the composite to the tooth. Then we will polish the composite to prevent staining and early wear.
What is the cost of a tooth filling with composite material?
Prices vary, but composites average about one-and-a-half times the price of a silver filling. Most dental insurance plans cover the cost of the composite up to the molar teeth. They pay up to the price of a silver filling on the molar teeth, with the patient paying the difference.
What are the benefits of composite fillings?
Esthetics is the main benefit since dentists can blend shades to create a color nearly identical to that of the actual tooth. Composites bond to the tooth to support the remaining tooth structure, which helps to prevent breakage and insulate the tooth from excessive temperature changes.
What are the disadvantages?
After receiving a composite, a patient may experience minor post-operative sensitivity. If this happens, the sensitivity usually dissipates within a few weeks.
How long will a composite tooth filling last?
Studies have shown that composites last 7-10 years.
Some of the benefits to “Composites” are:
- Composite filling material bonds directly to the tooth structure. Because of this, we have to remove far less tooth than we would have to if we were to do an amalgam filling. This reduces the risk of tooth fractures, and root canals as the patient ages.
- Amalgam filling material is not considered the optimum choice by most dentists.
- Amalgam fillings expand over time. This leads to a weakening of the tooth structure and can cause fractures.
- Composite fillings, however, support the tooth structure and thereby strengthen the tooth. Composite fillings are not only cosmetically far superior but, as mentioned above, their “wear rate” is the same as amalgam fillings.